Exercise machine

ABSTRACT

A wheeled base is provided having front and rear ends with an occupant seat disposed on the rear end and an upright having its lower end supported from the front end of the base. A mount is supported from an upper portion of the upright for oscillation about a horizontal transverse axis and the mount extends laterally outwardly on opposite sides of the upright. A pair of spring biased levers are pivotally supported, intermediate their opposite ends from the opposite side portions of the mount for angular displacement about generally parallel axes normal to the axis of oscillation of the mount and an expansion spring is connected between the forward ends of the levers yieldingly biasing the forward ends together and the rear ends of the levers, which are disposed adjacent the seat, apart. Further, a pedal crank assembly is journaled for rotation about a horizontal axis beneath the mount from which the forced levers are supported and the pedal crank assembly is adjustable vertically as well as toward and away from the occupant&#39;&#39;s seat.

United States Patent Yount et al.

[ 1 Sept. 18, 1973 1 EXERCISE MACHINE [22] Filed: May 24, 1972 [21]Appl. No.2 256,562

[52] US. Cl 272/58, 272/73, 272/83 R, 272/DIG. 3

[51] Int. CL. A63b 21/22, A63b 21/32, A63b 23/04 [58] Field of Search272/58, 73, 79 D, 272/82, 83 R, 72

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1941 Maxwell 272/83 R10/1971 Garten 272/79 R X 1/1962 Aronsohn 272/58 8/1928 Meyer 272/83 RFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 384,019 12/1932 Great Britain 272/69547,710 5/1956 France 272/73 Primary Examiner-Richard C. PinkhamAssistant Examiner-Harry G. Strappello Attorney-Harvey B. Jacobson 57ABSTRACT A wheeled base is provided having front and rear ends with anoccupant seat disposed on the rear end and an upright having its lowerend supported from the front end of the base. A mount is supported froman upper portion of the upright for oscillation about a horizontaltransverse axis and the mount extends laterally outwardly on oppositesides of the upright. A pair of spring biased levers are pivotallysupported, intermediate their opposite ends from the opposite sideportions of the mount for angular displacement about generally parallelaxes normal to the axis of oscillation of the mount and an expansionspring is connected between the forward ends of the levers yieldinglybiasing the forward ends together and the rear ends of the levers, whichare disposed adjacent the seat, apart. Furthena pedal crank assembly isjournaled for rotation about a horizontal axis beneath the mount fromwhich the forced levers are supported and the pedal crank assembly isadjustable vertically as well as toward and away from the occupantsseat.

11 Claims, 7 Drawing; Figures PATENIEUSEH mars SHEET 1 OF 3 EXERCISEMACHINE The exercise machine of the instant invention has been primarilydesigned to provide an exercising apparatus capable of exercising theleg and hip muscles of an operator while simultaneously also enablingexercising of the arm muscles, rear shoulder muscles and pectoralmuscles of the operator. The exercise machine is further constructed ina manner wherein the leg exercising portion thereof may be heldstationary and utilized as a foot rest while exercising only the arms,shoulder and pectoral muscles of the operator and the arm exercisingportion of the machine may be main tained stationary and utilized as asupport for the arms of the user while he is exercising his legs.

The exercising machine includes several adjustment features whereby themachine may be adjusted so as to be adapted to the particular size ofthe exerciser and the leg and arm exercising portions of the machine areconstructed in a manner whereby resistance to movement of the armexercising and leg exercising portions of the machine may be varied.

The machine is mounted on a mobile base whereby it may be readilyshifted in position within an exercising room or similar buildingstructure and the seat portion of the machine may be provided with aseat belt, if desired.

The main object of this invention is to provide an exercising machinewhich may be utilized to simultaneously or selectively exercise the armsand the legs of the user of the machine.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediatelypreceding object, is to provide an exercising machine which includesstructure for support of the legs if only the arms are to be exercisedin addition to structure for support of the arms if only the legs are tobe exercised.

Another important object of this invention is to provide an exercisingmachine provided with a comfort able seat for the user.

A still further object of this invention, in accordance with theimmediately preceding objects, is to provide an exercising machine witharm exercising and leg exercising components thereof which may beadjusted relative to the users seat whereby the machine may be readilyadjusted according to the size of the user.

Another object of this invention is to provide an exercising machineconstructed in a manner whereby the arm exercising and leg exercisingcomponents thereof may be adjusted to offer varying resistance tomovement.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enurnerated hereinis to provide an exercising machine in accordance with the precedingobjects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, beof simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device thatwill be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble freein operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exercising machine of the instantinvention;

FIG. 2is a top plan view of the exercising machine shown in FIG. 1 buton a somewhat enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a vertical, sectional view taken substantially upon the planeindicated by the section line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, transverse, vertical, sectional viewtaken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, enlarged, vertical, sectional view of thevertical mid-portion of the righthand portion of FIG. 3 with alternatepositions of the pedal crank assembly illustrated in phantom lines;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the adjustable pedal crankjournal structure and friction drag structure for the pedal crankassembly; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the force leverarm exercising sub-assembly of the invention.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10generally designates the exercising machine of the instant inventionwhich includes a base referred to in general by the reference numeral 12having front and rear ends 14 and I6 and a seat assembly referred to ingeneral by the reference numeral 18 supported from its rear end 16.

The base 12 includes a thick sheet metal base panel 20 having a roundedforward end and a depending heavy gauge metal skirt 22 extending aboutand supported from its marginal edges. The four corner portions of thebase panel 20 have caster wheel assemblies 24 secured to the undersurface portion thereof in any convenient manner, such as by bolting,and the upper surface of the base panel 20 is covered with a suitablepadding panel or carpet section 26.

The forward end 14 of the base 12 includes an upstanding slightlyarcuate fence or bumper 28 supported therefrom and the central portionof the base panel 20 disposed immediately rearward of the bumper 28 hasthe lower end of a substantially vertical upright 30 secured thereto.

The upright 30 is generally channel shaped in horizontal section andopens toward the rear end-l6 of the base 12. The upright 30 includesgenerally parallel opposite side flanges 32 and 34 inner connected bymeans of a forward bight portion 36 and the area of the bight portion 36immediately above the fence or bumper 28 is provided with a verticallyextending slot 38.

The seat assembly 18 is in the form of a conventional chair includingopposite side front legs 40 and opposite side rear legs 42. A seatcushion supporting structure 44 extends between the legs 40 and 42 andsupports a seat cushion 46. The upper end portions of the legs 40 curverearwardly at an elevation above the cushion 46 to form arm rests 40'and the rear ends of the arm rests 40 curve upwardly and then rearwardlybefore curving inwardly toward and merging with each other in order toform an upper horizontal handle 40". In addition, a back rest cushion 48is received and supported between the rear ends of the arm rests 40'.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 7 of thedrawings, a horizontally elongated and transversely extending mount 54and including a pair of rearwardly projecting apertured mounting ears 56is provided and oscillatably supported from the upper end of thestandard 30 by means of a pivot fastener 58 secured through the flanges32 and 34 and the ears 56. The opposite ends of the mount 54 includespaced flange portions 60 provided with registered apertures 62 and theforward end portions of a pair of elongated force levers 64 arepivotally supported between the flanges 60 at the opposite ends of themount 54 by means of pivot fasteners 66. The pivot fasteners 66 extendthrough the levers 64 at points spaced rearwardly of the forward end ofthe levers 64 and anchor pins 68 are secured through the forward ends ofthe lever 64 to define anchor points for the opposite ends of anexpansion spring 70 connected therebetween.

The levers 64 each comprise tubular forward end portions 72 into whoserear ends the forward ends of rear end portions 74 are adjustablytelescoped. The rear end portions 74 are provided with longitudinallyspaced apertures through which a corresponding locking pin 76 is securedin order to maintain the desired adjusted length of the levers 64. Therear ends of the rear end portions 74 are provided with hand grips 78 tobe engaged by the hands of the user of the machine disposed on the seatcushion 46 and it may be seen from FIGS. 1, 3 and 7 of the drawings thatthe mount 54 also includes a center anchor point 80 between which andthe anchor pins 68 a pair of springs shorter than the spring 70 may beconnected whereby the rear end portions 74 of the levers 64 may be urgedoutwardly away from the corresponding sides of the-seat assembly 18independently of the other.

The base 12 also includes an upright referred to in general by thereference numeral 82 disposed immediately rearwardly of the upright 30.The upright or standard 82 includes a lower tubular portion 84 whoselower end is secured to the base panel in any convenient manner and anupper portion 86 whose lower end is adjustably telescoped downwardly inthe upwardly opening upper end of the lower portion 84 by means of alocking pin 88 secured through the lower portion 84 and through aselected one of the transverse bores 90 formed through and spaced alongthe upper portion 86. The upper end of the upper portion 86 includes arearwardly and upwardly inclined sleeve 92 through which a mountingshank portion 94 carried by ajournal block 96 is freely slidable. Themounting shank portion 94 is provided with longitudinally spacedtransverse bores 98 and the sleeve 92 is provided with a transverse bore100 through which a locking pin 102 may be secured as well as thetransverse bore 100 in order to retain the mounting shank portion 94 inadjusted longitudinally shifted position relative to the sleeve 92.

The journal block 96 has a journal bore 104 formed therethrough in whichthe central journal shank portion 106 of a pedal crank assembly referredto in general by the reference number 108 is journaled. The assembly 108includes a pair of oppositely directed pedal cranks 110 having pedals112 mounted thereon and the assembly 108 includes a brake disc 1 l4concentric with the journal pin portion 106 disposed on one side of thejournal block 96 and a chain sprocket 116 concentric with the journalpin portion 106 disposed on the other side of the journal block 96.

The journal block 96 includes a generally radially outwardly projectingsupport arm portion 118 from which a friction pad structure 120 issupported by means of a guide pin 122, an anchor pin 124 and acompression spring 126 disposed about the pin or bolt 124 which servesto slightly cock the friction pad member or plate 120 so that thefriction member 128 thereof is biased into frictional engagement withthe opposing side face of the friction disc 114.

A bifurcated support member 130 is supported from the upright 30 bymeans of a bracket connected therebetween and an upper sprocket wheel132 is journaled from the support member 130 and aligned with thesprocket wheel 116. The sprocket wheel 116 is drivingly connected to thesprocket wheel 132 by means of an endless chain 134 and the sprocketwheel 132 is drivingly connected to the core element (not shown) of aspeedometer cable 136 by means of suitable gearing (not shown). Theother end of the speedometer cable 136 is operatively connected to therotary input shaft (not shown) of a conventional form of speedometerhead 138 mounted atop the upright 30.

In operation, if it is desired to exercise the legs, the user of theexercising machine 10 first adjusts the heighth of the upper portion 86of the upright 82 and thereafter before and aft positioning of themounting shank portion 94 of the journal block 96 in order to properlyposition the crank assembly 108 relative to the seat cushion 46 and thebackrest cushion 48. Thereafter, the wing nut portion of the fastener orbolt 124 may be adjusted so as to afford the desired frictionalresistance to the turning of the disc 114. Then, the user of theexercise machine 10 may place his feet on the pedals 112 and cause thecrank assembly 108 to be rotated by a bicycling motion of the legs. Ofcourse, the speed of rotation of the assembly 108 will be indicated bythe speedometer head 138 and if the latter is provided with a revolutioncounter, the total amount of work input to the pedal crank assembly bythe legs of the user of the machine 10 may be at least intelligentlyapproximated.

1f the user of the machine 10 also wishes to exercise his arms, he may,while turning the assembly 108 with his legs, also move the freerearward ends of the levers 64 toward each other against the biasingaction of the spring 70. Of course, the levers 64 may be repeatedlyswung together and away from each other, if necessary in timed sequencewith the rotation of the assembly 108.

However, if the operator of the machine 10 wishes only to exercise hisarms, the pedal crank assembly 108 may be engaged by the feet of theuser and yet maintained in stationary position while the free rearwardends of the levers 64 are swung toward and away from each other. Also,if only the legs of the user are to be exercised, the user may grip thehand grips 78 with his hands, hold the levers 64 stationary and use abicycling motion of his legs to drive the assembly 108.

Of course, inasmuch as the mount 54 is supported for oscillationrelative to the upright 30, the elevation of the rear free ends of thelevers 64 may be readily adjusted for use by the operator of the machine10. Further, the rear ends of the levers 64 may be swung upwardly to anout of the way position whereby entrance to the seat assembly 18 andmovement away from the latter by the user of the machine 10 will befacilitated. Additionally, the adjustability feature of the journalblock 96 whereby the assembly 108 may be shifted in position relative tothe seat assembly 18 enables the machine 10 to be more fully adjustedaccording to the size of the user.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An exercising apparatus comprising a base including operatorsposition defining means, an upright supported at its lower end from saidbase, a mount sup ported from an upper portion of said upright foroscillation relative thereto about a horizontal transverse axis, a pairof force levers pivotally supported intennediate their opposite endsfrom said mount and on opposite sides of said upright for oscillationabout generally parallel axes disposed substantially normal to saidaxis, means connected between said levers yeildingly biasing one pair ofcorresponding ends thereof away from each other, said one pair of endsincluding hand grip means adapted to be gripped by the hands of the userof said apparatus, and a pedal crank assembly journaled for rotationabout a second horizontal axis generally paralleling the first mentionedaxis andincluding pedal cranks whose free ends are adapted to be engagedby the feet of said user, said pedal crank assembly being generallycentered between parallel upstanding planes containing the axes ofoscillation of said levers relative to said mount.

2. The combination of claim 1 including means operatively associatedwith said pedal crank assembly and operative to apply an adjustablefriction drag on said pedal crank assembly retarding rotation of thelatter.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said one end portions of saidlevers include extendable terminal end taining the axis of oscillationof said mount, said pedal crank assembly being journaled from saidjournal block.

6. The combination of claim '5 wherein said base includes an elevatedseat spaced to the side of said upright from which said one pair of endsof said levers project, said journal block being disposed between saidupright and said seat.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said one end portions of saidlevers include extendable terminal end portions.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said means yieldingly biasing saidone pair of ends of said levers away from each other comprises anexpansion spring connected between the other pair of ends of saidlevers.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said base includes support wheelmeans for supporting said base for rolling over a horizontal surface.

10. The combination of claim I wherein said appara tus includes aspeedometer head including a rotary input shaft, means drivinglyconnecting said pedal crank assembly to said rotary input shaft.

11. An exercising apparatus comprising a base including front and rearends, said base including operators position defining means at said rearend, an upright supported at its lower end from the front end of saidbase, a mount supported from an upper portion of said upright foroscillation relative thereto about a horizontal transverse axis, a pairof levers pivotally supported from said mount for oscillation aboutgenerally parallel axes disposed substantially normal to said axis,means connected between said levers yieldingly biasing one pair ofcorresponding ends of said levers away from each other, said one pair ofends including hand grip means adapted to be gripped by the hands of theuser of said apparatus, said levers each including a baseend portion anda free end portion lengthwise extendable and retractable relative to thecorresponding base end portion, said base end portions being pivotallysupported from said mount and said free end portions supporting saidhand grip means.

t t t

1. An exercising apparatus comprising a base including operator''sposition defining means, an upright supported at its lower end from saidbase, a mount supported from an upper portion of said upright foroscillation relative thereto about a horizontal transverse axis, a pairof force levers pivotally supported intermediate their opposite endsfrom said mount and on opposite sides of said upright for oscillationabout generally parallel axes disposed substantially normal to saidaxis, mEans connected between said levers yeildingly biasing one pair ofcorresponding ends thereof away from each other, said one pair of endsincluding hand grip means adapted to be gripped by the hands of the userof said apparatus, and a pedal crank assembly journaled for rotationabout a second horizontal axis generally paralleling the first mentionedaxis and including pedal cranks whose free ends are adapted to beengaged by the feet of said user, said pedal crank assembly beinggenerally centered between parallel upstanding planes containing theaxes of oscillation of said levers relative to said mount.
 2. Thecombination of claim 1 including means operatively associated with saidpedal crank assembly and operative to apply an adjustable friction dragon said pedal crank assembly retarding rotation of the latter.
 3. Thecombination of claim 1 wherein said one end portions of said leversinclude extendable terminal end portions.
 4. The combination of claim 1wherein said means yieldingly biasing said one pair of ends of saidlevers away from each other comprises an expansion spring connectedbetween the other pair of ends of said levers.
 5. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein said base includes a journal block adjustably supportedfrom said base for adjustment in both a vertical direction and in ahorizontal direction generally normal to a plane containing the axis ofoscillation of said mount, said pedal crank assembly being journaledfrom said journal block.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said baseincludes an elevated seat spaced to the side of said upright from whichsaid one pair of ends of said levers project, said journal block beingdisposed between said upright and said seat.
 7. The combination of claim6 wherein said one end portions of said levers include extendableterminal end portions.
 8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said meansyieldingly biasing said one pair of ends of said levers away from eachother comprises an expansion spring connected between the other pair ofends of said levers.
 9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said baseincludes support wheel means for supporting said base for rolling over ahorizontal surface.
 10. The combination of claim 1 wherein saidapparatus includes a speedometer head including a rotary input shaft,means drivingly connecting said pedal crank assembly to said rotaryinput shaft.
 11. An exercising apparatus comprising a base includingfront and rear ends, said base including operator''s position definingmeans at said rear end, an upright supported at its lower end from thefront end of said base, a mount supported from an upper portion of saidupright for oscillation relative thereto about a horizontal transverseaxis, a pair of levers pivotally supported from said mount foroscillation about generally parallel axes disposed substantially normalto said axis, means connected between said levers yieldingly biasing onepair of corresponding ends of said levers away from each other, said onepair of ends including hand grip means adapted to be gripped by thehands of the user of said apparatus, said levers each including a baseend portion and a free end portion lengthwise extendable and retractablerelative to the corresponding base end portion, said base end portionsbeing pivotally supported from said mount and said free end portionssupporting said hand grip means.